Finally, the heat is on, and not just in that ‘80s Glen Frey kind of way. Sunshine, blue (grey?) skies and busy beaches are now a reality, meaning that, shortly, everyone will start complaining about how flipping hot it is. (Vancouverites…if we’re not complaining about the weather, we’re not living, amiright?)
No need to boil over, though. Frequent and plentiful applications of these sweet, icy treats will help you keep a cool head and a chill laissez faire ‘tude.
Innocent Ice Cream
Recently opened in the Little Mountain neighbourhood at Main and 33rd, this ice cream parlour serves up handmade, gluten-free ice cream sandwiches and scoops. Check out the Kong (chocolate cookie, banana ice cream) or the Salty Peanut or the tangy pink grapefruit sorbet. Take-home is also possible, but do check out the back patio. It’s a great place to enjoy a little quiet and sun while you’re beating the melt. innocenticecream.com
720 Sweets
Mango soft serve, anyone? It’s just one of the innovative treats you’ll find at this popular little chain in Vancouver and Richmond. From freshly-brewed iced tea with coconut jelly to matcha ice cream sandwiches, there’s a lot to explore at this little sweet shop. 720sweets.com
Umaluma
It might be one consonant short of Willy Wonka territory (come on, sound it out), but it’s definitely not short on flavour. Chinatown’s newest gelato shop is all vegan, all the time. In fact, it’s Vancouver’s first entirely plant-based gelato shop. It’s also organic and sports some rather intriguing flavours, such as strawberry-malbec, mojito, and saffron orange. There’s even a sugar-free vanilla for those trying to avoid all sins. umaluma.com
La Glace
What started out as an ice cream cart three years ago has now opened as a bricks-and-mortar ice cream parlour, in the finest French tradition. Wait, French? Oh yes, mes cheris, French artisan ice cream is a thing and it’s beautiful. And it comes with pastries, natch. Beautiful sorbets, dairy and vegan ice creams, parfaits topped with seasonal, local fruit and housemade marshmallows and meringues, plus cookies, macarons, and profiteroles, is what you have to look forward to at this romantic little shop on the West Side. laglace.ca
FlipSide Desserts
Filipino fare is the latest trend sweeping food-obsessed cities from coast to coast. It’s not surprising, then, that attention would eventually turn to the highly delicious sweet side of the cuisine. Flavours like pandan, halo halo, mango, taro, chocolate and avocado are available as giant milkshakes, ice cream, stuffed waffles and more. I really recommend trying the taro milkshake with a side of taro cake. facebook.com/flipsidedessertsvancouver
Doolami
Shaved ice sounds remarkably bland, but is incredibly refreshing and delicious when made well. At Doolami, you can find some of the city’s best shaved ice. It’s light, fluffy and topped with local and exotic fruits at peak freshness, meaning it’s practically health food, right? Try flavours like the mango shaved ice with mango pearls and fresh lychee or wax berry, or cherry (now that it’s in season). weibo.com/doolami
• Anya Levykh is a food, drink and travel writer who covers all things ingestible. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @foodgirlfriday.
